Eat, Drink and Be Merry!

When entertaining family and friends, does your kitchen offer what you need to eat, drink and be merry? There are many remodeling trends that involve the plumbing, carpentry and electrical trades that will make your home the ideal holiday haven.   A few modern kitchen upgrades that can enhance the holiday season include: add or alter the secondary triangle, create an additional work area and light up your space.

Plumbing

Adding or altering the secondary triangle can ease the workload and provide convenience for your guests. You may be familiar with the primary kitchen triangle which includes a stove, refrigerator and sink. This triangle is laid out in a logical way where the cook will have easy access to all three components. The secondary triangle is created as a convenience for additional cooks, caterers and guests. It is more customized, but is generally comprised of a beverage or mini-refrigerator, microwave or warming drawer and vegetable or bar sink. Additional plumbing may need to be added if you are considering this second task area. Depending on your needs, you can create a second triangle that allows another cook some modern conveniences for meals and party preparations.

Carpentry

Guests may also enjoy socializing when helping prepare holidays meals. Creating an additional work area can provide a social setting as well as another work area. If your kitchen has a wall of cabinetry, extend the cabinet lowers around and make a peninsula with a sitting area. This space can serve double duty - a larger task area for multiple cooks and a place where guests visit with the cooks and sample appetizers or what's for dinner.

Electrical

Lighting up your improvements can really showcase your kitchen's benefits particularly if your guests are unfamiliar with your kitchen. Using dimmer switches on all lighting will give you the flexibility to focus light where you need it most, create a specific atmosphere and highlight what you choose. Start with this small list and add lighting from here:

General lighting

Sets the mood for the occasion Task lighting Usually at the sink, counter and cooktop, provides a more focused and brighter light.

Accent lighting

Highlights artwork, photographs, home accessories, etc.

Under counter lighting

Light up the countertops so you can see what your preparing

This holiday season, what types of entertaining do you have planned? There may be some modern conveniences that would give your home the festive feeling and conveniences throughout the year.

Our client had two work triangles that intertwine to accommodate multiple cooks and guests. The primary work triangle includes a stove, refrigerator and sink. The secondary triangle is customized with a commercial warming drawer, vegetable sink and refrigerator drawers.

Bobby Sanders is a Certified Graduate Remodelor™ (CGR) with an exclusive professional designation designed to emphasize business manage¬ment skills as the key to a professional remodeling operation.

The CGR designation requires that graduates meet prescribed standards of business practice, possess a minimum of five years remodeling industry experience, have a proven track record of 'successful project management, complete a comprehensive education curriculum, and pledge to uphold the program's code of ethics.

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